Italian Jews Concerned over Terrorist Attack in Antwerp

The terrorist attack on a group of Jewish youths in Antwerp July 27, which resulted in the death of 15-year-old David Kohane, and injuries to 20 other persons, has shocked Italian Jews. After the Syrian-born killer, 25-year-old Abdel Wahid, revealed that he had left for his mission from Rome and was due to return here, concern spread in the Jewish community.

Jews want additional safety measures to be adopted when the large Jewish school on the Tiber reopens in September. For several years, parents of the 700-800 children from nursery to high school age attending the school, have organized a “father patrol” on constant guard outside the building. Obviously, however, additional security measures are needed to prevent a repetition of the Antwerp tragedy.

After that demonstration that defenseless Jewish children can become targets of Arab terrorism, said one Jewish shopowner in the center of Rome, “we have to double their protection wherever groups of Jewish youngsters gather.”

Roman Jews have been prone to quick reactions of anxiety in the post-war years, a direct aftermath of the SS roundups directed by Marshal Kesselring and SS Col. Herbert Kappler in 1943, in which nearly 2000 Roman Jews lost their lives in concentration camp. The Antwerp tragedy confirmed their worst fears.

ITALY IS STARTING POINT FOR TERRORISTS

Rome, and Italy in general, are often chosen by Arab terrorist groups as starting points for their actions. Over a year ago a representative of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Italy was arrested along with three Italian collaborators for having received and transported on Italian territory two Strela ground-to-air missiles of the same type that were used by a group of Palestinian terrorists several years earlier in an attempt to down an El Al plane in Fiomicino.

The Italian Jewish community is anxiously waiting to hear what concrete support was offered to the Antwerp terrorist in Rome, and what measures will be taken in Belgium and in Italy to prevent repetitions of similar tragedies. Most certainly, Italian Jews will demand some kind of increased protection, especially to avoid scenes of panic when the schools reopen.

SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN ORGANIZED

Meanwhile, in developments related to the terrorist bombing in Antwerp, a group of Dutch Jewish women in Amsterdam have formed a committee, Mothers Help Jewish Children, to organize a solidarity campaign and raise funds for those who were wounded in the attack. The money collected will be donated to the Agudat Israel in Antwerp, of which the victims were members, to enable those who were wounded to have a holiday after having recovered.

In Paris, Zionist militants tried to occupy the local Palestine Liberation Organization office in protest against what they called the “Antwerp bloodbath” but were prevented from doing so by the police. The militants said in a statement that the attack in Antwerp was the work of the PLO and that they could not tolerate the presence of a PLO office in Paris.